In professional snooker, scoring milestones are used to measure performance and consistency. One of the most widely recognised of these milestones is the century break, which highlights a player’s ability to score heavily in a single visit to the table.
Century breaks are frequently referenced in match commentary, statistics, and career records, and are considered a key indicator of high-level scoring.
What is a century break?
A century break occurs when a player scores 100 points or more in a single uninterrupted visit to the table.
All points must be scored during the same visit. If the player’s turn ends and later resumes scoring, the points do not combine to form a century break.
How a century break is made
Century breaks are typically built through a combination of reds and high-value colours.
In most cases:
- Multiple reds are potted with blacks or pinks
- The player maintains control of the cue ball throughout the visit
- The break may or may not include a full clearance of the colours
A century does not require all reds or colours to be potted, only that the total score reaches at least 100 points.
Minimum balls required for a century
There is no fixed pattern required to make a century break.
However:
- A player must pot a sufficient number of reds and colours to reach 100
- Higher-value colours reduce the number of pots required
- The theoretical minimum number of balls depends on colour selection and sequence
In practice, century breaks usually involve sustained red-black or red-pink combinations.
Century breaks and maximum breaks
A century break is not the same as a maximum break.
- A century break is any break of 100 points or more
- A maximum break refers to the highest possible break under standard rules
All maximum breaks are century breaks, but most century breaks are well below the maximum score.
Recording and recognition
Century breaks are formally recorded in professional competition.
They are used for:
- Match and tournament statistics
- Career achievement totals
- Broadcast graphics and commentary
- Bonus prizes offered by some tournaments or sponsors
Players often reach personal and career milestones based on their total number of centuries.
Importance in professional snooker
Century breaks are valued because they demonstrate:
- High-level scoring ability
- Break-building consistency
- Match-winning potential
While century breaks do not directly affect rankings, players who score heavily tend to perform better across long formats and full seasons.
Common misunderstandings
A century break requires a specific pattern of balls
There is no fixed sequence required, provided the total score reaches at least 100 points.
A century can include points from fouls
Only points scored by the player during their visit count toward a century break.
A century requires a clearance
A player does not need to clear the table to record a century break.